William Shippen, Jr.

Shippen, William, Jr., 1736–1808, American surgeon, b. Philadelphia, M.D. Edinburgh, 1761. A pioneer lecturer on anatomy and midwifery, he was instrumental in the organization (1765) at the College of Philadelphia (later the Univ. of Pennsylvania) of the first medical school in the United States, where he served as professor of anatomy and surgery. The actual plans for the medical school were drawn up by John Morgan, but Shippen claimed that Morgan had taken over his idea, and a bitter rivalry grew up. Shippen succeeded Morgan as head of the army medical service; both men were court-martialed on charges arising from their feud and were acquitted. Shippen afterward resumed teaching at the medical school.